Capacity Building in Diplomatic Training: Trends, Developments and Methodological

approach

Ron Ton, Director Clingendael Academy

September 2013

© Ron Ton, 2013

Comparative Perspective on Diplomatic Training Institutes in the world: various models

Different names; same purposes?

• Diplomatic Institute/School/Academy

• Foreign Service Institute/Academy

• Graduate Institute/School

• (Training) Centre/Institute for Diplomacy

Classifications in Diplomatic Training Organizations

• Part of the MFA – Integrated in one of the MFA’s Directorates – Separated unit

• Independent Foundation/Institution (with strong governmental links)

• University institutions • Private organisations • Within International organizations

International Networks in Diplomatic Training

• European Diplomatic Programme (EDP): Cross national training programme (EU)

• International Forum on Diplomatic Training (IFDT): global network

• African Charter of the IFDT

• ASEAN + 3 group

• Asia-Africa Group on Diplomatic Training

• Bilateral agreements/Scholarship programmes etc.

Analyzing trends and developments in the diplomatic

environment and their impact on diplomatic training: some

examples

Changing relationship between Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Other Ministries

Changing perspectives on the relationship between bilateral and multilateral diplomacy

Hybride diplomacy: traditional and virtual diplomacy

Changing impact of non state actors in diplomacy

Changing communications with civil societies

Changing Diplomatic Environment

New international (sustainable) agenda calls for integrated view on policy dilemma’s

Impact of information technology and social media: digitalisation of diplomacy

Importance of network diplomacy

Rationalisation of working processes: more accountability demanded

Public versus private diplomatic services?

Globalisation

International organisations

Regional co-peration

Press/media

NGO’s/lobby

Business sector/Trade Unions

National

Parliament Civil society

Intra Ministerial

Inter Ministerial

Ministry

Foreign Political Environment and Spheres of Influence

Bilateral co-

operation

Multilateral

co-operation

Consequently:

Diplomats have to be better prepared for tactical

policy co-ordination and networking

Emergence of “fast diplomacy”

Impact of Competence Management in HR of

Ministries of FA

Preparing for dealing with multidisciplinary

stakeholders and policy dossiers

Diplomatic Training in Perspective

Diplomatic

Academy

Educational

Process

External

environment

Continous process: the changing

diplomatic environment requires

a permanent update of diplomatic

staff’s competences

“Education Permanente”

Trends in the Development of Diplomatic Training Institutes

1990 2015 2030

Less academic education, more professional

training ?

Inclusion of other groups for training ?

Relationship with MFA changes ?

Upgrading the prestige; diplomatic training as

a tool in foreign relations ?

Diplomatic environment more complex; more

collaboration and networking with stake

holders needed

?

Comparative perspectives on

Diplomatic Training

• In house training versus outsourcing

• Career training versus specific training

• Training on the job versus fulltime training

• Diplomatic versus technical training

• National versus multinational training

Diplomatic training as a tool in foreign policy and public diplomacy

• Promoting the dialogue between countries and societies

• Building networks

• Team building

• Instrumental for regional cooperation and peace building

• Nelson Mandela “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” – Training future (ANC) diplomats for South Africa

Capacity Building: Actions to Support the Institutional

Development of Diplomatic Training Organizations

Essential Themes in Capacity Building in

Diplomatic Training

Institutional Structure and Management

Development

Educational Process and Curricula

Development

Communications and Networking Policy

Institutional Structure and Management

Development

• Mission statement Diplomatic Institute

• Place within and outside the Ministry

• Linking education to career policies of the Ministry

• Scope of activities

• Organizational Structure

• Requirements: staff, budget, facilities

Educational Process and Curricula Development

• Strategic vision

• Training philosophy

• Needs analysis

• Designing and development process

• Recruitment policy of teaching staff

• Quality management

• Operationalisation

• Evaluation

Communications and Networking Policy

• Creating internal and external networks

• Stakeholder analysis

• Public information policy

• Information and documentation capacity

• Website development

• Digital learning environment

• Getting the message across one’s own MoFA

• Alumni policy

Educational process in practice

• Priorities on targetgroups and courses

• Developing interactive diplomatic training

• Developing teaching materials

• Priorities on curricula development

• Instruction of teaching staff

• Assessment and evaluation systems

• Profile of junior, midcareer and senior diplomat and their required competences

Traditional versus interactive training

• Knowledge

• Teacher as expert

• Learning

• Facts

• Skills

• Trainer as example

• Doing

• Practice

Why using interactive training?

• Activate the student

• Motivate the student

• Because it’s more challenging

• Because it’s different

• Because they have to prove themselves

(visible element of positive competition)

• Brings the student into the flow of actual events and policy dilemmas

• Provide teamwork opportunities (often required)

Interactive training is the key to success in the training of diplomats

• Decide on the context

• Decide on the diversity of working forms

• Decide on the costs and input to realize interactive training

• Roleplay: creates a real time simulated environment

Designing interactive training

Your design should have the following elements:

• Subject

• Objective

• Method

• Structure

• Timeline

• Role of the teacher

Labelling Interactive Diplomatic Training

Simulation

Negotiations

Game

Debate

Sessions

Panel

Discussions

Case Study’s

Interview

Carroussel

Small Group

Study’s

Simulating a

Press

conference

E-learning

Workshop

Political

Reporting

Policy Paper

Programmes

Expert

Meeting

Reflection

Sessions

SWOT

Analysis

Scenario

planning

Simulating

working at an

Embassy

Crisis

Management

Simulation

Evaluation techniques

• Feedback

• Assessment

• Coaching

• Facilitation

• Inter vision

• Reflection on learning effects